Artisanal fishing in Tunisia has long been classified as a coastal fishing all through the establishment of legal and financial instruments to limit its existence and facilitate its semi-industrial fishing in transformation. Out she comes as a subsidence of fishing by traditional techniques must be environmentally and often having as raw material products of nature.

Employing more than 70% of the workforce in the fisheries sector (42,000 artisanal fishermen), artisanal fishing has contributed over the years to more than 50% of the value of national production.
Artisanal fisheries operating in lagoons and coastal waters using 11 000 fishing units (92% of the national fleet) and produces only 30 000 tonnes (30% of national production).

Despite this, the sector of artisanal fisheries does not have the recognition it deserves. It remains marginalized or excluded by number of organizations responsible for the preparation of development policies.

In addition, the craft is facing the gradual reduction of its fishery resources because it competes with industrial fishing that occurs on the same space, the same resources, the same markets but in totally unequal conditions.